P&O Cruises unveils 2026 programme with solar eclipse sailings

While guests on Arcadia will have the chance to witness the eclipse on the Iceland & British Isles cruise departing from Southampton, when it calls into Isafjordur. Prices start from £1,840pp. 

Britannia, which is currently in dry dock, will make maiden calls into nine ports, including Corfu, Aarhus and three ports in Iceland. 

Starting from Southampton on 19 August 2026, Aurora sailing will call into Istanbul which is the first time the line has visited the Turkish city since 2015. 

Ruth Venn, P&O Cruises sales director, told TTG the line had seen its highest new-to-cruise levels ever last year. 

To attract more new-to-cruise passengers, P&O Cruises has increased the number of seven-night sailings for 2026.

Both 5,200-passenger ships – Arvia and Iona – will offer four new seven-night Southern Mediterranean sailings, calling into Bilbao, La Coruna, Vigo and Cherbourg. Prices start from £649. 

In addition, Iona will operate eight seven-night Norwegian Fjords departures during the school holidays, offering families the chance to sail together. 

At the end of April, Britannia will emerge from dry dock with an expanded Loyalty and Cruise Sales area where passengers can book their future cruises. The line is adding a fourth desk to the area, more seating, digital screens and brochure racks. 

“It will feel like a shop as we want to capitalise on the high footfall onboard Britannia,” Venn explained. “That is ultimately good news for travel agents because the commission goes back to them.”

P&O Cruises also extended its contact centre to a seven-day operation ahead of today’s 2026 programme announcement to ensure agents get the support they need throughout the week.